how do i..

[d_s]

replicate what i have in warm up and the holding ring in the dressage arena...

i try not to tense up etc, and im getting better; i really rode her yesterday instead of keeping the handbrake on all the time! and it wasnt too bad i guess, i just need some tips lol
other than just going out and keep doing it
x

 

[sea_view]

I will watch this thread with great interest as I have the same problem!!!

 

[milliepops]

Hmm, it's a tough one. But there are a couple of things that can help. One is match practice - get out and about as much as you can so that your horse (and you!) gets used to the atmosphere in different arenas. Different venues have different spooks (flowers, mirrors, gap under the door, shadows etc etc) so the more you can come across, all the better for spook busting.

You can also do this at home, by sticking strange things in the arena or on the fence.

The next thing is to make that mental leap from thinking of it as a competition to just schooling in a different place. While you are starting out, be prepared to address issues as you would at home, rather than thinking too much about the judge! The day I managed to do this was the day I started riding properly in a dressage test, instead of just piloting through the movements above all else.

I'm not saying you should always do this in a test, but it helps me - if something goes badly wrong in the test, I think to myself - well, the score has probably already dropped enough for me to be out of the rossies, so I may as well sort this problem out! Say I've got a leg yield and it all goes to pieces - horse canters, or explodes away from my leg, or just plain doesn't move away from it at all - I'll take a deep breath and imagine I was at home. What would you normally do in that situation? I'd probably stop, collect myself together and then ask again more clearly. The trick is not to be in too much of a rush Don't be afraid to pause, and sort it all out in your own time (within reason )

I once saw Carl Hester prepare to do a rein back in a test. He halted, stopped there for a second or 2, adjusted his jacket/breeches, stayed still for another moment, and then asked for the rein back. If it's good enough for him to wait until the right moment, it's good enough for me

God, essay - sorry, but I hope some of that makes sense. It works for me. I find my tests go to pot if I worry too much about the competition- if I block out the judge and just ride like I would at home, it all works so much better.